The pictures above and below are of our School of Ministry students. Unlike last year, this year they are located in two different places. We have one group in the city and another group in the village. I have the honor and privilege to be able to teach both groups and it’s a blessing. I am teaching this term on “Being a Disciple of Christ and Making Disciples of Christ.”

My wife and I are rejoicing on a daily basis with all of the many blessings that we hear and see from back “home.” It’s absolutely astounding how good God has been and how faithful and diligent our folks back “home” have been the last few months. People are being saved, burning their idols, people are being baptized and discipled, a new church (I like to call it our COVID church plant) has been planted, Bible studies have been started, one of our graduates (one of our adopted daughters) has recently “left the nest” as a missionary and serving in another part of the country. 

It was a blessing to hear that one of our School of Ministry student’s (Vang Pao) father and sister recently trusted Christ. As you might remember in a previous update, we mentioned that his mother came to a church service and trusted Christ as a result of our “Operation Samaritan’s Compassion” helping to meet her physical needs. A few months later Vang Pao’s father wanted to hear more about salvation and he along with his daughter received Christ. The day after Vang Pao’s father and sister trusted Christ they conducted an idol burning service.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS FAMILY TO GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!  

Another salvation blessing was when the elderly mother of one of our faithful church members trusted Christ just a few days ago. She also happens to be the grandmother of another one of our School of Ministry students (Gee). This entire family has a powerful testimony and are trophies of God’s grace.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS FAMILY, ESPECIALLY GRANDMA, TO GROW IN THEIR FAITH!

As we mentioned in our previous Update, our adopted daughter, Pachou, has left the nest and is now serving in the northern part of the country. We are so proud and excited for her and for the church where she is now serving. Along with teaching the children and teens the Bible, Pachou is presently teaching the children and teens to read four mornings a week (4 hours a day), teaching the married women to read a few nights a week, teaching a few folks how to play the guitar, and a couple young people how to use a computer. The reason she is teaching so many how to read is so that they one day can read their Bibles!

PLEASE PRAY FOR PACHOU, PASTOR PAUL, HIS FAMILY AND THE CHURCH FAMILY UP NORTH!

It has been such a blessing to see the growth in so many of the students back “home.” I constantly get reports of one of the young lady’s named Duen. She’s actually a fairly shy girl, but she has a heart for her people, especially young people, and she’s a soul-winner. I was just notified this past weekend that she was able to lead nine young people to Christ.

PLEASE PRAY FOR DUEN AND ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A HEART TO REACH THEIR PEOPLE WITH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!

I have mentioned Soubin in previous updates. He is one of the six men that I am presently discipling online. I was discipling Soubin prior to coming back to the States and have been meeting with him three times a week for almost a year now. The growth in his and his wife’s life over the past year is nothing short of a miracle. To God be the glory!

About 10 months ago, Soubin started a Bible study in his village, which is now a full-fledged church. I like to refer to it as the COVID church plant because it was started in the midst of the worse days of the COVID Crisis back “home.” The church is doing very well and his ministry has expanded to his former village a few hours north where God is using him to reach unbelievers with the gospel, disciple believers, and train future leaders for Christ!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR SOUBIN, HIS CHURCH FAMILY, AND FOR THE MINISTRY UP NORTH!

As we have mentioned often, Kong and Lilee are doing a tremendous job overseeing the ministry while we are gone. To be honest with you, that’s a serious understatement. Kong is pastoring a church, running the School of Ministry in the village, and actually starting to do some outside speaking in Hmong churches. Lilee is such a blessing. This past week she organized and oversaw three days of Sunday School Teacher Training. She did a great job and for this we are thankful!    

PLEASE PRAY FOR MANY MORE KONG AND LILEE’S TO BE RAISED UP FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE BACK HOME!

As always, Denise and I simply want to say thank you for your prayers and financial support. And, even above that, for your friendship and fellowship in the Gospel ministry!  

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

The picture above is of two of our Hmong adopted daughters. Their names are Pachu (left) and Pachoua (right). Denise and I love both of them, along with our other two (Mai and Bounmee) dearly, and are very proud of all of them. Pachu lived with Denise and I for more than a year and a half before we asked her to become the Dorm Supervisor for our School of Ministry’s Lady’s Dorm. She graduated from our School of Ministry last Spring and later this month she will be heading up north, as a missionary, to work with one of our sister churches and our dear friend Pastor Pav. Pachu’s primary responsibilities will be to oversee the Children’s and Teen Ministry, as well as discipling the young ladies in the church. If you and/or your church family would be interested in helping to support Pachu on a monthly basis please feel free to contact me.

PLEASE PRAY FOR PACHU TO BE A BLESSING!

Well, most of us were extremely excited to see 2020 fade off into the rearview mirror of our lives and were definitely looking forward to better days ahead in 2021. The year hasn’t started off really well, at least not as well as we were all hoping and praying that it would. The COVID numbers (infections, hospitalizations, deaths) are up, many of the restrictions are still in place, the divisiveness of our nation is greater than it has been in at least sixty years, if not more so. And, what took place at our Nation’s Capital on January 6 was as disheartening, if not more disheartening, for most of us as it could possibly get! 

At the same time, as followers of Jesus, we do not lose heart, we do not walk by fear, but we walk by faith and we continue to go forward for God, and we just keep loving God, loving others, reaching people for Christ, and discipling those we reach for Christ, grounding them in the word of God so that they in turn can continue to walk by faith and go forward for God, regardless of the circumstances around us.  

PLEASE PRAY FOR HEALING IN OUR COUNTRY AND A GREAT AWAKENING IN OUR CHURCHES!

Speaking of Pastor Pav, we are excited to announce that Brother Dwight Tomlinson and Barnabas1040 have provided the funds for Pastor Pav and his church family to build on a small extension to his house (where the church family meets for worship) to enable them to get more folks into their weekly church gatherings. Their church has been growing leaps and bounds and they just didn’t have enough room. This is a tremendous blessing!

PLEASE PRAY FOR PASTOR PAV, HIS FAMILY, AND THE CHURCH FAMILY AS THEY LABOR FOR THE LORD UP NORTH! 

Despite all of the negative surroundings, and yes, despite still being “stuck in the United States” (pray for us), I am grateful for the opportunity to be very involved with what God is doing back “home.” As I have mentioned often in our previous Prayer Updates, it has been a blessing to be able to continue to disciple five men (Kosal, Jui, Kong, Soubin, and Cherchou) back “home,” to be able to funnel funds back “home” to needy churches, Christians, and unbelievers through our Samaritan’s Compassion Ministry during these trying times, and beginning this week, I will, once again, begin to teach our School of Ministry students in two different locations, as well as getting back to regular reporting to our supporting churches now that the holidays are over. 

By the way, if you and your church family would like to be involved with helping the poor, the needy, and the helpless in Southeast Asia or you would like for me to come in and give a report feel free to contact me. We would love to touch base with you!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR DIFFERENT MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AND ESPECIALLY FOR OUR NEW SCHOOL TERM!  

Over the past few weeks, our folks back “home” celebrated the coming of a New year with New Year’s Services that ushered in the New Year with an old vision. Our School of Ministry students had the chance to go back to their villages to visit their families and be a blessing in their villages and, in some cases, their home churches, and a handful of people have trusted Christ. 

I am sad to announce that our pastor friend back “home” that has been incarcerated for eleven months is still in jail. We have heard that he might be coming out soon, but we aren’t holding our breath. We are grateful for the opportunity to be able to support his family now for ten months by way of “Operation Samaritan’s Compassion.”

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR PASTOR FRIEND, HIS WIFE, AND HIS CHILDREN DURING THIS TIME!

As always, Denise and I thank God and want to thank you for your faithful support and consistent prayers during these trying times. As I often say, we could not go, nor could we stay and do the work God has called us to do, if it wasn’t for his grace and your generosity!

Your Missionaries to Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

God is good all the time. All the time, God is good!

Greetings to all of our family, friends, and supporting churches. My wife and I are so thankful for your faithful prayers and consistent financial support, especially in the midst of these trying times, and we want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The picture above is of our School of Ministry students and a few others, in the northern part of our country “back home.” They just completed their annual Winter Missions’ trip. You can see more pictures of the trip at the end of this Prayer Update!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL INSTILL A DESIRE FOR THE NATIONS IN THE HEARTS AND LIVES OF OUR SCHOOL OF MINISTRY STUDENTS AND WILL USE ALL OF THEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR CHRIST AND THE CAUSE OF CHRIST!

Well, needless to say, the past twelve months have been very “interesting,” to say the least. Between the COVID 19 Crisis, government restrictions around the world, economic instability, etc… we have had a boatload to navigate through both “around the corner” and “around the world.” And yet, in the midst of all the trials and troubles there have been many triumphs and victories in and for the Lord!

As always, God has shown Himself faithful and for this, we are grateful!

One of the many blessings in the midst of the many burdens of this past year has been the many people that have been saved, baptized, added to the church, and discipled in 2020, and yes, even in the midst of a global pandemic, government restrictions, and an increase in persecution. Over the past two weeks, we have had reports of two entire households trusting Christ, burning their idols, and being baptized – all in the same day. In addition to this, a couple week’s ago, Jui led a Vietnamese immigrant and his wife to Christ. Our two village churches, along with a few other sister churches back “home” have seen well over 60 people come to Christ with more than 40 of those being baptized, and many of them being discipled.

Even the members of our pastor friend back “home”, that has been incarcerated for ten months now, have been faithfully sowing the seed of God’s word and have had dozens trust Christ. I am thankful that “Operation Samaritan’s Compassion” and  Dwight Tomlinson and Barnabas 1040 have been helping to support him and his family over the past ten months!

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PRAY THAT A SOUL-WINNING FERVOR WILL BE AS MUCH A “NORM” IN 2021 AS IT WAS IN 2020!

Please continue to pray for our pastor friend and his family. He has now been incarcerated for ten months and, barring a miracle from above, he will definitely not be out to celebrate Christmas with his family. We are thankful for the many different individual Christians and churches that have helped us to help him, his family and many others by way of “Operation Samaritan’s Compassion.” By the way, if you would like to help with this much needed ministry just give us a shout!

Of course, as you know, Denise and I are still “stuck” in the States. Back “home” they keep pushing back the date for re-opening the borders and only the Lord knows when we will be able to return, but we are doing all that we can to stay busy doing what God has called us to do. Fortunately, I have been able to report or present in two churches just about every week since the beginning of June. I have stayed extremely busy with online discipleship, discipling five men (nine hours a week) and on-line teaching once a week for our School of Ministry back “home.” My wife has also been faithfully discipling and/or counseling a few of our ladies back home. What a blessing to have a wife who has a heart for the Lord and for people!

In addition to this, my wife and I are fairly busy raising funds here in the USA and transferring these funds back to Asia to help the poor, the needy, the helpless, as well as struggling churches. Very grateful for all that my wife does to help with “Operation Samaritan’s Compassion.” By the end of the 2020, by God’s grace and the generosity of many of God’s people, we will have been able to send nearly fifty thousand dollars to Asia to help the poor, the needy, the helpless, and struggling churches during these trying times.

God has been very good, and His people have been very generous!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY THAT GOD WILL USE US RIGHT WHERE WE ARE AND THAT HE WILL OPEN THE NECESSARY DOORS TO GET BACK TO ASIA!

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We are especially grateful for the opportunity that God has afforded us over the past nearly eight years to invest in the lives of so many people, whether in China or five different countries in Southeast Asia. We are especially thankful for the opportunity to invest in so many national pastors, church leaders, and young men and women preparing for ministry. And yet, we couldn’t do it without your prayers and your financial support.

Thank You and We are Praying that You Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

Pictures below are from the College students’ missions trip up north.

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The Hmong woman above is 100 years old and just trusted Christ this past weekend. Her name is Chuan. After her daughter-n-law trusted Christ, she invited our School of Ministry students to the house. They shared the gospel with Chuan but she did not get saved until Kong made a second visit. A 100-year-old woman trusting Christ is a miracle in any country, but especially in a country such as ours back “home.” Thankful for Kong and our School of Ministry students and their heart to reach their people, whether young or old, with the good news of Jesus Christ. Our “Operation Samaritan’s Compassion” ministry will also be helping to meet some of her desperate physical needs too!

Please pray for Chuan’s spiritual growth!

Well, as we approach the Thanksgiving Season, my wife and I wanted to take just a moment and thank our family and friends, our home and sending church, and all of our supporting churches for all that you have done for us. Thank you for praying. Thank you for giving. Thank you for loving us and loving those with whom God has entrusted into our care.

As we often say, “We could not go, we could not stay, and we could not continue the task that God has given us to do without the grace of God and the generosity of God’s people!”  

My wife and I are especially grateful during these trying times – in the midst of a Global Pandemic, Government restrictions, and all of the political divisiveness, and social unrest in the United States – that you have not stopped praying, giving, loving, and encouraging.

In fact, during this difficult season, some of our supporting churches have stepped up to the plate and have taken special offerings for our “Operation Samaritan’s Compassion,” which has allowed us to send over $35,000.00 to three countries in Southeast Asia to help the poor, the needy, the helpless, and struggling churches!

We are also especially thankful that despite these interesting days in which we are stuck in America, unable to go back “home,” God has allowed us to report or present our ministry including “Operation Samaritan’s Compassion” in an average of two churches each week for the past five months, while still continuing our online discipleship sessions with four of the men in Asia, as well as teaching online for our School of Ministry on a weekly basis. Denise is also discipling a few of our women and teen girls back in Asia online!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR ALL OF OUR OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE AND BE A BLESSING “AROUND THE CORNER” AND “AROUND THE WORLD.”

My wife and I are so grateful to receive “glowing reports” on almost a daily basis of people being saved, baptized, discipled, new ministries being started, as well the poor, the needy, and the helpless being cared for. As a direct result of our “Operation Samaritan’s Compassion” there have been 17 adults saved and nine baptized over the past few months.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST BACK “HOME” AS THEY LABOR FOR GOD AND FOR GOOD!

We are both very grateful that our home and sending church, Pacific Baptist of Long Beach, CA, is doing very well in the midst of this Pandemic. In fact, other than having to hold services outside and not able to run their busses because of COVID restrictions, they really haven’t skipped a beat. Every service is a full house, they are still having classes (both the school and the college), they are still out sharing the Gospel in the community, and they just conducted a great three-day Missions’ Revival in which I was privileged to preach twice and teach a one-day Missions Intensive for the college. And, of course, the best part of the Missions’ Revival was spending time with many of our grandchildren!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR HOME AND SENDING CHURCH AND THOUSANDS LIKE IT AROUND THE NATION DURING THESE TRYING TIMES!

My wife and I are so very thankful for a couple of churches that have specifically designated special offerings to help our pastor friend who has been incarcerated for almost nine months now and has yet to be charged with a crime.  With your help we have been able to support his family for the past seven or eight months!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR PASTOR FRIEND AND HIS FAMILY BACK “HOME” DURING THESE DIFFICULT DAYS!

We are so very grateful and excited to see the growth of the men, women, and teen girls that we are discipling. They are growing in the faith, their love for the Lord, their love for a lost and dying world, and in their service of God. Very exciting! 

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR KONG, SOUBIN, CHERCHOU, KOSAL, PHACU, AND KASHUA!

We sincerely want to wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving! And, once again, say “Thank you. Thank you for loving, praying, and giving for our ministry ‘around the corner’ and ‘around the world!’”

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

Psalm 100:4, Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

The pictures above and below are some of the poor village children from one of our ministries that have been blessed by “OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION” with much needed school supplies and shoes. 

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE COUNTRY IN WHICH WE SERVE HAS A MEDIAN AGE OF 24.4 YEAR’S OLD? IN THE UNITED STATES IT IS 38.2 YEAR’S OLD!

As a team we are not only working with adults, but we are working with children and teens. By God’s grace and the generosity of God’s people, we are doing everything we can to meet their physical needs as well as their spiritual needs. Our desire is to raise up a generation of young laborers for the Lord Jesus in this desperately needy country!

It has been an interesting ride, over the past few months to say the least, but God has been good, and, as always, He has been gracious. We were supposed to head back to Asia in the middle of August, but the borders are still closed. Yet, God has been using us in a special way since being “stuck” in the United States. 

Over the past few months, we have started what I am calling “OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION.” This is a ministry to help the poor, the needy and the marginalized in Asia who have suffered greatly, especially since COVID-19 struck.

As I often tell folks, here in the U.S., the poor and the needy back “home” have no unemployment and no government stimulus package, but they do have the goodness of God and the generosity of God’s people.  I am thankful to God that many of God’s people have “stepped up to the plate,” and have given generously. Over the past six months, we have been able to funnel over $20,000 to three different countries (Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos) to bless the poor, the needy, and the marginalized!

As is often the case, when you help the poor and the needy physically, they are often far more prone to listen to your message as you try to help them spiritually, which, of course, is their greatest need. Over the past few months, at least thirteen of these dear people have trusted Christ and eight have been baptized. And, many others have had their hearts softened to the point that they have been willing to listen to a soul-winner share the Good News of Jesus Christ and/or attend a church service for the first time!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY (AND, IF POSSIBLE, GIVE) FOR OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION TO CONTINUE TO BE USED GREATLY BY GOD DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES!

Our new dormitory was completed in August and our School of Ministry just opened its doors for the new Fall Term two weeks ago. Last Spring, we had over twenty students meeting in the capitol city.  Twelve of those students were the fruit of our ministry and the other nine of them were from another ministry. These students are now meeting in two different locations.  

Of course, I was supposed to be teaching two or three classes, but COVID-19 has prohibited that. No problem though, God has that all taken care of. Pastor Kong, Pastor Leexeng, and Pastor Kampai are doing all the teaching in the two locations. 

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SCHOOL OF MINISTRY STUDENTS AND THE THREE NATIONAL PASTORS TEACHING THEM!

One of the ministries that we have been helping is our team in Northern Thailand, Tom and Sue Sutrick are the “real deal” and have been serving in Thailand since retiring in the States. We have been able to partner with them to help many in their village, including building a small brick house for a widow. We are also thankful to have played a small part in helping to encourage another church to help Tom and Sue to build a new church facility.

PLEASE PRAY FOR TOM AND SUE AND THE MINISTRY IN THEIR VILLAGE

As I have mentioned in previous updates, I am discipling six men from three different countries online. It is exciting to watch as God is growing them much. As we mentioned in the past, one of them just started a new work a few months ago in his home and his village. We are grateful for Brother Dwight Tomlinson and Barnabas 1040 recently taking Soubin on for some support, as well as taking on another one of our pastor friends back “home.” 

PLEASE PRAY FOR PASTORS SOUBIN AND SITHONE AND THEIR MINISTRIES!

We are also very grateful that things are getting back to a sense of normalcy back “home,” especially when it comes to the gatherings and the ministries of the churches. Over the past few weeks folks have been returning, people have been getting saved and baptized, and special training sessions for church members are being conducted!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR CHURCHES AS WELL AS THE OTHER CHURCHES THAT GOD HAS ALLOWED US TO HAVE INFLUENCE OVER!

Denise and I are very grateful that we have been able to report for quite a few churches over the past three months and we had the privilege to participate in a Missions’ Conference this past week with Pastor Jason Brockman and the Colorado Baptist Springs church family.

It was a tremendous conference and the church not only took us on for monthly support but also gave generously to our OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION FUND. Lord willing, I will be in another Missions’ Conference in about three weeks.

As always, Denise and I want to thank you for your consistent prayers and faithful financial support, even in these difficult days. We are ever reminded that we are able to do what God has led us to do because of His grace and your generosity!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise

“Where have we any command in the Bible laid down in stronger terms, and in a more peremptory urgent manner, than the command of giving to the poor?” – George Whitfield

“Christ’s command (to love our neighbor as ourselves), coupled with the depth of poverty in the world and the reality of wealth in our lives, has huge implications for the way we live. … If the love of God is in our hearts, then it is not possible for us to ignore the poor in the world. The gospel compels Christians in a wealthy culture to action—selfless, sacrificial, costly, countercultural action—on behalf of the poor.” – David Platt

As always, my wife and I are so very grateful for your prayers, your financial support, and in many cases, your friendship over the many years. To say the least, these have been interesting days – not only in the United States, but around the world. Yet, God is still on His throne, Christ is still Lord of all, and the church of God is still on the move “around the corner” and “around the world.”

The picture above are just some of the supplies that we have been providing for the poor, the needy, and the helpless in Asia during these trying times in what I am calling “Operation Samaritan’s Compassion.” A few churches and a handful of individuals have partnered with us the past few months enabling us to send nearly $12,000 to help many people, not only in our “home” country but in the country of Cambodia also. And, we still are sending money on a regular basis.

If you are interested in helping with this project please let us know!!!

We definitely covet your prayers. Denise and I were scheduled to return back “home” to our field from this short furlough in the middle of August, unfortunately, in light of COVID – 19, that’s not going to be happening, at least not in August or September. We are thankful that we serve a God that, even in the midst of a global pandemic is still in the business of guiding and directing His people, saving lost sinners, and maturing His children.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL OPEN DOORS THAT NO MAN CAN SHUT SO THAT WE CAN RETURN TO THE FIELD SOON!

I am thankful that during this season, because of the technology of the day, I have still been able to disciple five different men (three from Laos, one from China, and just added another one from Cambodia) on a weekly basis. It is such a joy to be able to spend time with these men and to watch as they continue to grow in their love for the Lord and their service for Christ and the cause of Christ. These are all good men that I was discipling while in Asia, and I am grateful we can continue to do so while “stuck” in the States. The picture below is Kosal and his daughter Abigail. We just started meeting once again (on-line, of course) this past week. While living and serving with our team in Cambodia I had the privilege to disciple Kosal once or twice a week for two years.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE FIVE FINE YOUNG MEN (SOUBIN, CHERCHOU, JUI, RICHARD, AND KOSAL)!

We are also grateful that we are able to keep in contact with our team back “home” on almost a daily basis. God is doing some amazing things through our folks back home. In addition to the services in the capital city and three different villages in which our folks are serving, the School of Ministry dorm is progressing well, and we are also helping them and others to help the poor, the needy, and the helpless (“OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION”) during these difficult days and trying times. A handful of the folks that received physical help also trusted Christ!

WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR CHURCHES AND INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS THAT HAVE PARTNERED WITH US, NOT ONLY TO SEE SOULS SAVED, LIVES CHANGED, AND CHURCHES PLANTED, BUT ALSO TO ASSIST THE POOR AND THE NEEDY DURING THESE TRYING TIMES. THESE FOLKS HAVE NO UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, NO STIMULUS PACKAGE. THEY DEPEND ON THE GENEROSITY OF GOD’S PEOPLE!

The woman above is named, Sua Xiong. She is the mother of our Bible student Vangpao. She had never attended one of our services until this past Sunday. Why did she attend? Because we helped to meet her physical need. Please pray for her salvation! 

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR ALL OF THE DIFFERENT MINISTRIES THAT WE HAVE OPERATING FOR CHRIST AND THE CAUSE OF CHRIST AT THIS TIME. BUT ESPECIALLY PRAY FOR “OPERATION SAMARITAN’S COMPASSION.” PRAY THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO MEET PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS DURING THIS TIME!

As much of the U.S. is beginning to “open,” we are actually beginning to have some meetings. In the past six weeks, we have had meetings in five different supporting churches and look forward to being in a few more of our supporting churches in the next three weeks.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPORT TO SOME MORE OF OUR SUPPORTING CHURCHES BEFORE WE DO LEAVE THE COUNTRY!

As always, my wife and I want to thank you and your church family for your prayers, financial support, and concern for us at all times, especially during this time. God bless you and yours!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

 

The picture above is of one of our dear ladies. Her name is Champa. Her salvation testimony is heart-warming.  In recent days, she has stepped up by faith to fill a great need in teaching some of the other Hmong women in her village. Discipleship really does make a difference!

While we are still navigating through the tumultuous waters here in the United States, back “home” in “our respective country” things are going extremely well. Most, not all, of the COVID -19 restrictions have been lifted in recent days. Four of our School of Ministry students graduated with a two-year diploma. We are so proud of Kong, Jui, Souphan, and Pachu and look forward to seeing what God does in and through their lives. 

After our School of Ministry graduation and working some on our new dormitory, a handful of our School of Ministry students went back home for a while and are busying themselves with the work of the harvest, both natural and spiritual. We are so thankful for young people that are committed to Christ, the cause of Christ, and have a sincere love for the people of their country.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO USE OUR FOUR GRADUATES AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE COUNTRY! 

The church services in all three of our locations have finally resumed and are still trying to get back to where they were before the lockdown. Our Saturday Children and Teen Ministries have also recently started up once again, and the new Bible study in Soubin’s village is doing extremely well.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE VARIOUS SERVICES!

We so very proud of our School of Ministry students and a few of our church members. Despite the extreme heat and limited resources, the work on our School of Ministry dormitory is progressing well ahead of schedule. It looks like the dorm will be completed sometime in July, and well ahead of our fall term.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE NEW DORMITORY!

Of course, I have been able to continue my online discipleship sessions with Soubin (three days a week), Cherchou (three days a week), and Jui (one day a week). These are three good men that love the Lord, the word of God, and are committed to doing the work of God.  Lord willing, Pastor Kong and I will also be meeting once a week for a time of discipleship beginning soon.

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PLEASE PRAY FOR JUI, SOUBIN, CHERCHOU, AND THEIR FAMILIES!

It has also been a blessing to teach a series of lessons on “The Lost Art of Discipleship” for one of my former Bible college students, Pastor Kyle Beck, and the Pacific Baptist Church family of Monterey Park. Lord willing, I will be teaching for five to six weeks. 

PLEASE PRAY FOR PASTOR KYLE BECK AND PBC MP AS THEY HAVE JUST STARTED MEETING TOGETHER IN PERSON ON SUNDAYS!  

I am also thankful for the opportunity that my wife and I, a handful of family and friends here in the States, our home church Pacific Baptist Church, and Barnabas1040 were able to continue supporting various needs back in two different countries in Southeast Asia – including assisting our team in Cambodia financially in the repairs of the roof of their brand new church building, which was completely blown off in a recent storm.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TEAM IN CAMBODIA AS THEY RESTART THE REBUILDING PROCESS!

As always, my wife and I want to thank you and your church family for your prayers, financial support, and concern for us at all times, especially during this time. God bless you and yours!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

My wife and I want to thank you for your prayers and financial support. We are presently in the States on a short furlough, if you would like to have us in (or online) to report  please feel free to contact me. The best way to contact us would be at our email address: seasia4him@gmail.com.  

For many of us, the last month or so seems to have taken forever. Because of all the restrictions, not only in the USA, but around the world, life has changed for all of us.  Yet, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are grateful that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever and He is still working for His glory and the good of others around the world. Please take a moment and watch our brief video update below and see all that God is doing despite the COVID-19 “crisis.”

May 2020 Update.mp4 from carrithelight on Vimeo.

Denise and I ask that you would continue to pray for our three churches back “home,” the new Bible study in Soubin’s village, our School of Ministry classes, the building of the new dormitory, our team as they seek to help the poor, needy, and hurting in Southeast Asia, as well as my three online discipleship sessions with Jui, Soubin, and Cherchou.

My wife and I are so very grateful for your prayers, for your financial support, and above all, for your loving friendship!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

The picture above is at the airport in Guangzhou, China. Needless to say, they are taking this COVID-19 situation serious. Nearly every one of the airport employees were wearing a hazmat suit.

It’s so hard to believe that it was less than three weeks ago that we sent out our Seven-Year Anniversary Prayer Update.  A lot has happened in the past three weeks and it’s been a long three weeks that’s for sure!

As we mentioned in our previous update, Denise and I were planning on taking our first furlough in about three years beginning the middle of May. Well, that changed after we received notifications from the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy in our given country stating that, in lieu of the COVID-19 pandemic, if we planned on leaving the country any time in the near future we needed to leave soon. After pondering and praying about it for a few days, we booked a flight, said goodbye, and headed back “home.” We have been in the States now for a little over a week. Lord willing, we will be returning back to our place of ministry in 4-5 months! 

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR STAY IN THE STATES TO BE AS FRUITFUL AS POSSIBLE UNDER THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES!

As it is in the United States, the country where my wife and I are presently serving is on an almost complete lockdown. Most of this has taken place either just prior to our leaving the country or right after we left. All the schools and the universities are closed. No meetings with over ten people. Nearly every International flight has been cancelled. Very little travel allowed, even within the country. Yet, we are glad to report, whether in Asia or America, God is still on His throne, His word is still going out, and His work is still being done, even if it’s being done in a different form or fashion. Pastor Kong and his wife have taken the “bull by the horns” since our departure and they are doing a tremendous job under trying circumstances. They are giving themselves, at this time, to discipling our dorm students (who are stuck in the city), translating Christian materials into the Hmong language, and even attempting to “live-stream” services despite limited resources (see picture below).

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TEAM BACK “HOME,” AND ESPECIALLY KONG, LILEE, AND JUI AS THEY LEAD THE TEAM DURING THESE TRYING TIMES!

A few weeks prior to leaving for the States, Jui, and I flew to Cambodia. I was scheduled to preach for a “Leadership Conference,” as well as for our Team and the church in Phnom Penh. I suppose you can guess what happened. Yes sir! Everything was cancelled in lieu of the COVID-19 pandemic. Well, the trip wasn’t a total waste, Jui and I were able to spend time with some of our Team Members and some of the dear folks that God allowed my wife and I to influence during the two years that we lived and served in Cambodia. I was also able to take Jui to visit the “The Killing Fields.” Always a sobering reminder of the depravity of man without God!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TEAM AND THE PEOPLE OF CAMBODIA DURING THIS TIME!

We definitely love and miss all of the folks that God has entrusted into our care. We thank God for their hunger and desire for the word and work of God. The pictures below are of our School of Ministry students taking their Midterm (three weeks ago) and afterwards praying for their country and the world during this time of “crisis.”

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO CONTINUE TO HUNGER AND DESIRE THE THINGS OF GOD!

A FEW ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS:

(1) PRAY FOR WISDOM FOR OUR GOVERNMENT IN THE U.S. AND THE GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD DURING THIS TIME OF CRISIS!

(2) PRAY FOR MISSIONARIES AND NATIONALS IN ASIA AS THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THE MIDST OF THIS CRISIS!

(3) PRAY FOR OUR TEAM IN THE “CREATIVE ACCESS” NATION TO HAVE THE WISDOM AND THE POWER TO SERVE DURING THESE DAYS!

(4) PRAY ESPECIALLY FOR KONG, LILEE, AND JUI AS THEY LEAD OUR TEAM FOR THE MOMENT!

(5) PRAY THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN BACK “HOME” IN 4-5 MONTHS AND BE ABLE TO REPORT SOME WHILE WE ARE HERE IN THE STATES!

As always, Denise and I simply want to say, “Thanks for your prayers, your friendship,  and,  of course, your financial support over these many years, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE THESE.” May God continue to bless you and yours!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

The picture above is my wife and I arriving in Southeast Asia seven years ago today. We left family, friends, and everything familiar to us in Los Angeles on March 14, 2013 (see picture below) and arrived in Cambodia. We would spend two weeks with our Team in Cambodia before flying to our destination in the “Creative Access Nation” in which we have lived and served for nearly four years now (two separate tours). Along with our time here in this country, we also spent a two-year tour with our Team in Cambodia, and another ten months living and serving in China. In addition to this, we have spent much time ministering in Thailand, and sometime in Indonesia and Myanmar. Yes, the Lord has been gracious!

Over the past seven years we have given ourselves to doing the work and assisting others (our three teams, other missionaries, and Nationals in six different countries) as they do the work on this side of the Pacific and bringing awareness to the great need in the 1040 Window on your side of the Pacific Ocean.

We are grateful for all that the Lord has allowed us to do, but more importantly, we are thankful for all those that God has allowed us to influence for Christ and the cause of Christ the past seven years. People have been saved, baptized, discipled, pastors and church leaders have been trained, and churches have been planted, and we are thankful to have been able to have a small part!

FROM A “CREATIVE ACCESS NATION”

We are extremely thankful for all of you that have been faithfully supporting us these past seven years, and in some cases, for over eight years now. We are even more grateful for your prayers and your friendship. We could never thank you enough for all that you have done and all that you mean to us!

FROM THE COUNTRY OF THAILAND

While we never know what the future holds, we absolutely know Who holds the future, and we are confident that God will continue to guide and direct our steps for His glory and for the good of others, as long as we are “surrendered” to His leadership. With your help and by God’s grace, we will continue to assist folks over here and make aware the great needs over on your side of the Pacific.

FROM THE COUNTRY OF CAMBODIA

When Denise and I left Los Angeles in March of 2013, we left behind five children (four were married at the time) and seven grandchildren. Well, the family has grown a bit. Our youngest child, Joy, got married and we now have 26 grandchildren (21 biological). Most of the grandchildren are pictured below. Of course, in the past seven years we have “adopted” quite a few Asian children and grandchildren!

Lord willing, my wife and I are looking forward to seeing them all in May, as we return to the States for a short furlough. We surely covet your prayers concerning the furlough and for the work here in Asia. If any of you would like to have us in to give a report of God’s many blessings please let me know as soon as possible. As of now, it looks like we will be in the States between the middle of May until the middle of September!

FROM A “CREATIVE ACCESS NATION”

As always, Denise and I simply want to say, “Thank you for everything. Your prayers. Your friendship. And, your financial support over the years.” May God continue to bless you and yours!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito

“The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed.” – Hudson Taylor